In this episode of The Analog Explorer, I caught up with Katie from Paulin Watches, a design-forward brand based in Glasgow, Scotland, and the sister company to the well-known AnOrdain. We spoke live from the show floor of the inaugural Vancouver Timepiece Show, where Paulin made their Canadian debut.
While some brands build from heritage, Paulin builds from creativity. With a background rooted in typography and graphic design, Paulin’s watches are what I’d call “font-forward”—with dials that are expressive, playful, and purposefully different. That’s no accident. When the brand officially joined forces with AnOrdain a couple years ago, they brought in Imogen, AnOrdain’s dial designer, as creative director. The result? A studio-led approach to watchmaking that puts visual design at the forefront.
During our chat, Katie and I dove into Paulin’s collaborative spirit. From their newest project with Chicago-based artist Crystal Zapata to a previous collab with San Jose’s Ono Type Co., Paulin thrives on cross-disciplinary partnerships that bring new perspectives into watch design. Katie herself wears just one watch—a rare unicorn in the #watchfam—and it’s one of the Crystal Zapata pieces. Designed around celestial timekeeping and planetary rotation, the dial and engraved caseback evoke a deep connection to natural rhythms and the joy of analog time.
We also explored Paulin’s Modal Collection, their core line that comes in quartz, manual, and automatic movements. Modular by name and by nature, the collection is designed to allow case swaps and movement flexibility. And yes—if you’re wondering—they’ve even given one of their quartz models an exhibition caseback. Why? Because it looks cool. And because Paulin’s about having fun with the details, even when it breaks with tradition.
But it’s not just about looks. Paulin is also serious about sustainability. Their packaging is made of cork, sourced and processed in Portugal by 3D Cork. It’s lightweight, renewable, and fully recyclable—even pulped and reused if returned. As Katie put it, “We’re trying to be as transparent as possible in what we make, and where we source it.”
Production happens mostly in Glasgow, but with a new partnership with Roldorf & Co., Paulin now has assembly and distribution in Canada too—making this debut at the Vancouver Timepiece Show not just a showcase, but a milestone.
Want to see what Paulin’s all about? Follow them on Instagram at @paulin_watches or visit their shop at paulinwatches.com.
Special thanks again to the Vancouver Timepiece Show for creating a space where design, community, and horology collide. Check timepieceshow.com to find out where the show is headed next.
